Yohoho…. Merry Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Festivus/whatever. Um, yeah. My holidays were mediocre at best, but I don't really expect much/. I went to Florida. It was warm. I like the cold. Ergo, I had a bad time. I NEED SNOW DAMMIT!!!!!!!
Note: I don't know if they know about concussions in Faerun. If they don't…. deal with it. For the purpose of this story, they do. This also applies to any other…… er…… liberties I might take. Deal with it. It's my story. It's FICTION!
Oh well. On with the story!
Disclaimer: I own nothing. That was all I wanted for Christmas. I hate Santa
Locke Watcher: Don't get rid of the zombie voice. The zombie voice is cool. Plus, if we have some sort of apocalyptic situation a la Resident Evil, you can blend in with the er… zombies! Yeah, uh…. Ignore me. As for the scene dividers, I tried several different pretty ones, but alas, they worked not. So I decided upon Q's. Cause the letter Q is the coolest letter in the alphabet.
Archyou2: Yeah, er….. about that not updating….. I'll try not to do that again. As for Imoen, I like her a lot, and I figured after all the stuff she went through, she had to have grown up a little. The Sarevok thing is gonna be slow, though…. I don't want him to be too out of character (though I guess a Sarevok romance itself is). And Anomen is… well….. he's kinda a villain, but more like a righteous prat gone wrong…. I hope to amend the whole situation eventually. He's not the ultimate evil. And other characters? Well, this is gonna be a trilogy, so I get some others in. Not tellin' who though. But you'll see one by the end of this chapter.
Just some musings….. this fic is approaching the one year mark (making me feel guilty for not having it done yet). Maybe I'll have a special birthday chapter or something….. Have Sarevok and Raziel making out somewhere while drunken revelry abounds… he he he …. Maybe not.
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Imoen had faced dragons, evil godlings, insane mages, and any number of other random evils. She had found her way through endless tunnels, puzzling mazes, dark forests and to her dimensions. She had deflected the deadliest spells and picked the most enigmatic locks ever created.
And yet here, she felt she was stuck. The door was barred from the outside, not locked. And though she could blast the door out with magic, she knew there were likely to be many guards outside the cell. It was unlikely she could get out without being badly wounded, if not mortally wounded.
And there were, as ever, additional circumstances to consider. One was lying on the floor nearby, while Jaheira tried to help him. The hit to Kelsey's head had done more than just knock him out; Jaheira had suspicions of a serious concussion. Kelsey was not responding, not waking. And Imoen was worried.
Imoen turned at the sound of Jaheira rising from her kneeled position beside Kelsey. She looked over, watching the half-elf as she placed her cloak under Kelsey's head, pillowing the young sorcerer. She proceeded over to sit next to Imoen, who was against the wall right across form the door.
"This was Raziel's cell, you know," said Jaheira. "They changed the door to keep in a master thief."
"Anomen has a sense of humor," Imoen replied coolly.
"Anomen is a fool," the druid growled.
"How is Kelsey?"
Jaheira sighed. "He will be fine, eventually. But I would not risk moving him from here for a day, at least. He has a bad concussion and I fear to jar it."
Imoen echoed her sigh. "No escaping, then."
Jaheira shook her head. "It would be best to wait. Perhaps Anomen will come to his senses."
"Perhaps Bhaal himself will come and free us," Imoen returned sarcastically.
Jaheira smiled slightly. "Maybe not Bhaal, but one of his sons….."
Imoen merely sighed again and turned her attention from Jaheira to the door of their cell. She stared at it as if willing it to open, but it stayed closed, and the cell echoed only with the sound of Kelsey's breathing.
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Sarevok stared out one of the windows in the (mostly) private library adjoined to Elysia's room. The sun was rising, but Sarevok was not truly watching it. He was so deep in thought that he did not realize that Raziel was watching him.
She leaned against a doorframe, contemplating her companion. He was kinda handsome from this angle…. But then again, people thought she was beautiful. Damn humans and their elf complex. If they didn't hate elves, they seemed to want to sleep with them or something.
She sighed, shaking those dangerous thoughts from her head and deliberately allowing Sarevok to notice her appearance. To his credit, he didn't show any surprise at her being their. He didn't even turn.
"Bad dreams, elf?"
"Nightmares would require sleep, of which I have had none," said Raziel, plopping down into one of the comfortable chairs scattered amid the dusty old bookshelves. Light from the dawn had begun to filter in through the windows (this was one of the few rooms in the old castle that had windows) and it lit up her face, making the dark circles under her eyes all the more noticeable in contrast to the whiteness of her face.
She looked almost cadaverous, just the way she felt.
"What, did the girl keep you up all night?" said Sarevok sarcastically. In truth, he was curious as to what had transpired the night before.
Raziel turned her stare from the encroaching dawn to the ceiling. "More like Elysia's advice did."
"What did the little girl say?"
She sighed yet again. "She says I have to see Quinn… somehow."
Sarevok didn't answer. He finally turned around to look at her, his face showing a small measure of surprise.
"It's foolish," growled the elf. "How am I to contact him in the first place? He's a god! And even if I did find a way, why would he listen? What would I say? And what would this help? He cannot do anything!" She closed her eyes. "Even if he could help, he would not."
Sarevok took on a thoughtful expression. What the elf said was true; it was unlikely his brother would help her. He had abandoned her, had forgotten her, and probably only knew of her now because she sought to undermine his godhood by burning his temples.
"That is all the girl said?" he asked.
"Basically," Raziel replied, opening her eyes again to look at him. "She said I wouldn't like it, but I have to seek forgiveness from him, and therefore find forgiveness in myself, or some such philosophical nonsense."
"How did she say to find him?" asked Sarevok. Raziel's eyes narrowed a little.
"You're agreeing with her?" she asked.
Sarevok shrugged. "You were the one who said she was never wrong. You asked for her advice." He smirked. "Besides, what other options do you have? At this point, it's not like you have anything else to lose."
Raziel glared at him. Then she sighed. "I suppose you're right. I don't have anything to lose….. at least, nothing that isn't on the line already."
She stood up. "I suppose we'll have top talk to the brat anyway. After all, I have no idea where to find a god, let alone a god such as Quinn."
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"I am glad you have made this decision, Liae, and so soon," said Elysia, smiling from where she sat. "It often takes you too long to come to one, you stubborn elf."
Having found Elysia in yet another library (leaving Sarevok to contemplate how many small libraries there were in this place), Raziel had informed the girl of her decision to try and find her old flame. Elysia was pleased, to say the least, and even her clouded eyes seemed to glow slightly with joy.
"Yes, yes," said Raziel, waving her hands, "I know I'm a hard-headed idiot a times. You do not have to rub it in."
Elysia nodded. "I sense you still have doubts though, my friend."
Raziel sighed. "Finding Quinn and all is wonderful in theory, but how am I suppose to? It's not like I can just call summon him from the heavens."
Elysia smiled. "Well, the task would have been easier if you hadn't burned down all his temples, thereby alienating his priests and destroying any easy way there was to get in contact with him."
"I know, El! I'm an idiot. But you wouldn't have suggested this to me if there was no other way to find him."
Elysia sighed. "There is a way." She stood and walked over to yet aother small window. Her eyes closed in thought, a mere gesture she had kept since she had lost her sight. After a few moments, she began to speak.
"There have been very few instances where a mortal was made into a God, you know." She said softly. "The circumstances of the Children of Bhaal were very unique. Demi-gods, walking the earth, until one day one would take their fathers place. It had never happened. But in one moment, Tarquinn was able to do as no other ever had. Such a moment of concentration of fate is bound to leave a mark that is forever connected to that particular god."
There was silence for a moment, then Sarevok spoke.
"Are you suggesting we go to the Throne of Bhaal?" he said.
"Yes. It is the only place you can easily connect and speak with Tarquinn," she said.
"Only one problem," said Raziel. "The Throne of Bhaal is in another plane of existence! We can't just go there! Besides, wasn't it destroyed when Quinn ascended?"
Elysia shook her head. "That place once held the power of a God. Such power is bound to affect that place. It is a permanent fixture of that plane, whether Tarquinn knows it or not."
"Even if that is true, how do you expect us to get there?" growled Sarevok.
"There is always a way," said Elysia. "I am sure in your travels, Liae, you have encountered someone with the ability to move between planes, no?"
Raziel thought for a moment, then nodded. "You're right, as always," she said, smiling slightly. "I think we have a chance at this." She turned to Sarevok. "That is, if you're still up to it."
Sarevok smirked. "And miss a chance at seeing my dearest brother again? How could I not?"
"Good." Raziel turned to Elysia. "I'm sorry, but…."
Elysia smiled and waved her hands. "No need for apologies. This is something you must do if you wish to feel whole again. I understand. Now get going. I have horses with provisions ready already."
Raziel shook her head. "You and your foresight." She enveloped the young girl in a hug. "I'll be back to visit as soon as I can."
Elysia nodded. She pulled away, an even brighter smile across her face. "I know you can do this, Liaedra, my sister. Be safe."
Raziel nodded, and, with one look back, left the room.
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When they reached the entrance Elysia's promise held true. Two horses with packs stood tethered by the front gate, ready to leave. Sarevok turned t Raziel as they readied themselves for the journey.
"So where exactly are you leading us this time?" he asked.
"Athkatla, probably," she said.
He raised an eyebrow. "Athkatla? Are you sure that's wise?"
"That's the lace where I am most likely to find an old friend who has the ability to help us easily."
"A mage, then?"
Raziel shook her head. "No this person is a natural at plane-jumping. I don't want to risk a spell; many times you don't know where you are going to end up. I'm just hoping this friend is still here."
They both mounted their horses, as Sarevok voiced his next concern. "How do you know he will help? You are a criminal."
Raziel grinned. "Don't worry; I don't think moral issues will be a problem. He is, after all, a staunch supporter of entropy……"
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I'll give you coooooooooooookkkkiiiiiiiieeeeeeeee if you guess who Raziel is talking about…….. a taaaaaasssstttyyyyyy cooooooooooooookkkkkkkkkiiiiiiieeeeeeee!!! Any BGII lover should be able to figure it out…. If not, shame on you! He's one of my favorites, and I just had to put him in!
Next Chapter: Er….. not really sure yet! I guess we'll have some more Anomen plotting, some news on Kelsey's health, and most definitely, some Raziel and Sarevok! They'll probably meet the character I was talking about in the last paragraph, so…… read it! Review too cause I like reviewers. They make me feel special.